The view from the top of Table Mountain

Table Mountain, the icon of the Mother City, is a visitor’s paradise. One of the oldest mountains in the world, it offers hiking trails, scenic trips on the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway and spectacular views of Cape Town and its surrounds.

With views of the 12 Apostles, the V&A Waterfront, Robben Island, Mitchell’s Plain and the Cape Flats, Table Mountain is the perfect place from which to view the city.

One of the myriad views from Table Mountain, with Lion's Head and Robben Island pictured.

Table Mountain, the icon of the Mother City, is a visitor’s paradise. One of the oldest mountains in the world, it offers hiking trails, scenic trips on the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway and spectacular views of Cape Town and its surrounds.

With views of the 12 Apostles, the V&A Waterfront, Robben Island, Mitchell’s Plain and the Cape Flats, Table Mountain is the perfect place from which to view the city.

The mountain also offers a birds’-eye view of the Cape Town stadium, which has been built ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. The newly transformed 68 000-seat, world-class stadium is situated between Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean.

Those who take a trip to the top of Table Mountain can see to Mitchell’s Plain, about 20km from the city – and have the opportunity to see where the Cape Flats gets its name.

The Cape Flats, a large area of sandy flat land, lies to the north of the city. During the apartheid era, non-whites were forcefully moved to the inhospitable area, referred to as “apartheid’s dumping site”, where they had to rebuild their lives.

From Table Mountain, visitors can watch ships coming in and out of the harbour and the V&A Waterfront berths.

This V&A Waterfront is a magical destination, with numerous shops, restaurants and bars. African beats filter along the Waterfront’s pavements, which can be seen remarkably well from the top of the mountain.

On a clear day, Robben Island, the infamous prison island that was home to many of South Africa’s political prisoners, including former president Nelson Mandela, is visible from the top of the mountain.

The 12 Apostles mountain range can also be seen from Table Mountain. The many peaks, which extend from Table Mountain towards Hout Bay, make for fantastic photographic opportunities.